Rotary engine.



R. J. DAVIDSON.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION r1121) MAR. 24, 11113.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

ROBERT J DAVIDSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed March 24, 1913. Serial No. 756,514.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT J. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rotary engines in which one or more spiralway rotary expansion members have inclined individual axes of rotation and while rotating around their inclined individual axes of rotation, also revolve around a central axis which is preferably vertically disposed; this engine may also be made to serve as a gas compressor, blower or vacuum pump.

A spiral-way rotary expansion member of the kind hereinafter described may also be operated to serve any of these usages by rotating on its axes only.

The objects of my improvements arez (1) To reduce the number of rotating parts in the rotary expansion members; (2) to decrease the friction between the outer shells and the liquid they contain; (3) to eliminate the external bearings from the rotary expansion members; (4.) to connect the liquid contained in each of the outer shells with that contained in the others, so

that the total amount they contain will be distributed about equally among them; (5) to provide means for keepin the liquid contents of the outer shells o the proper strength and quantity; (6) to provide means for melting a substance which may not be a liquid at ordinary temperatures, such means to act on the liquid substance within the rotary expansion members and in the liquid circulating devices hereinafter described; (7) to supplement the internal speed governing mechanism with an external governor; (8) to gain greater power producing capacity without increasing the size of the engine. I attain the ObJGOtS by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1' is a part sectlonal elevation and part exterior view of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention, one operating cylinder only being shown, it being understood that there are others not shown, this figure also showing the engine in full operation. Fig. 2 is an exterior view of a part of the engine shown in Fig. 1, and drawn on a smaller scale.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the float operated mechanism shown in Fig. 1, one of the valves being shown in section; Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the puppet valve 45.

Like characters of reference refer to simi lar parts in the different figures.

In the design shown in Figs. 1 and 2 there are three spiral way fluid expansion mem bers 1, which I will hereinafter call cylinders. These cylinders are rotatably mounted within the shells 2, so that their axes of rotation are inclined to the central shaft 10. Shells 2 also serve as braces between the lower supporting bracket 3, thegear box 4, and central hub 5.

Shells 2, spokes 3 and hub 3, gear box at, hub 5, cover 12, and the upper section of the central shaft 14 together comprise the revolving frame work of the engine.

Contained in the outer shells 2 is a suitable quantity of a liquid 6 to partly submerge the cylinders 1.

A gear 7- on the end of the cylinder axle 8 and in mesh with a gear 9 on the lower stationary section of the central shaft 10 causes the rotation of the cylinders to re volve the cylinders and frame work around the lower central shaft 10.

, Inside the cover 12of the gear box is suitable space forthe screens 13 therein secured; and extending upward from the central portion of the cover is the aforementioned upper section of the central shaft 14 which serves as part of an exhaust pipe, and also as a driving shaft for the attachment of the pulley 15.

The supports for the rotation of the cylinders 1 within the shell 2 consist of the radial bearing 16 surrounding the fluid feed pipe 17 and held in position by the web 18, attached to the inside wall of the cylinders, and the radial bearing within the hub 19 and the two opposed thrust bearings on the ends of the hub 19, hub 19 is supported by the web 20 within the passage 21. Pipe 17 is fastened securely within the elbow 22 andforms a passage for the fluid from the duct 29 to the upper part of the chamber 30 within the cylinders 1.

The lower-section of the central shaft 10 extends downward through the center of the base pan llto which it is secured. A housing covers the engine and is joined at its lower edge to the upper edge of the base pan 11, housing 60 and base pan 11 completely inclosing the engine except the upper central shaft 14 and pulley 15. Secured on top of the housing 60 is a tripod 60 which supports the exhaust pipe and the connection 35 to same and the end of the upper central shaft 1 1.

At the top of the tripod is the vessel 42 covered by a lid 42, a delivery pipe l3 joins the lower interior of the vessel 12 with the interior of the gear box l, another delivery pipe 41 joins the upper interior of vessel 42 with a pump 39 inside of.the vessel 10. The pump plunger 39 is actuated by the pitman a? connecting it with the crank of the crank pulley -l8 which is turned by a belt passing around it and the guide pulley 19 on the brackets w and pulley 50 on central shaft 1a. A spout l6 connects the bottom of the base pan 11 with vessel 40. An excess of liquid in the shells-2 overflows through holes 14 into duct l4: and presses upon the spring pressed plunger 45 of the puppet valve 45. (See Figs. 1 and at). A feed pipe 21 connects between the govornor valve 23 and a supply of fluid through an admission valve not shown and between the governor valve 23 and the lower end of the hollow central shaft 11; ports 25 connect the hollow in shaft 11 with an annular space 26 in hub 5. Ducts 27 lead to pipe 28 which connect between ducts 27 and the aforementioned ducts 29 in the elbows Leading from the main steam feed pipe 2%. at a point between the governor valve 23 and the admission valve (not shown) is a steam pipe 245* which is divided into three branches which lead through the liquid circulating and regulating devices; branch pipe 51 leads through cock 52, then downward through the lid 38 of the vessel 40 and up through the spout 46 into the base pan 1]. where it is laid in a ring which is connected to the exterior of base pan 11 through the cock 51 branch pipe 53 leads through cock 56 then downward through the lid 38 of vessel 40 and the float actuated cock 57, then through a steam coil in the lower part of vessel 10 and upward through the delivery pipe 41 and downward through vessel 12 and delivery pipe 13 and returns back up over the outside of pipe 13 and finally terminates in the exhaust pipe 35; branch pipe 53 leads through the cook 51 downward through the lid 38 into vessel 40 where it connects with the aforementioned pipe form'ingva by-pass connecting pipe 24" with 53 around the float actuated cook 57 A water pipe 59 leads through the cook 59 the lid 38 into vessel 40 and through the float actuated cock 59 ending in vessel 40. A quantity of liquid is contained in the vessel 40 which while normal in amount holds the cocks 57 and 59 closed by acting on the float 58; when cock 59 is open cook 57 is closed, when cook 57 is open cock 59 is closed.

There is a drain cock 63 on connecting pipe 63, another drain cock 65 at the lower end of delivery pipe 41', and another exterior drain cock G2 in the lower part of vessel 10.

The bearings 16 and 19 on which the cylinders rotate are inclosed within the shells 2 and passage 21 respectively-and thus afford no chance for any leakage of the fluid at these points.

A cock 2% in the lower part of the fluid feed pipe 2% may be opened to drain out water of condensation, and to admit air into thepipe 21 to prevent a vacuum being formed therein by the condensation of the fluid after the fluid admission valve is closed.

Instarting, the engine may be revolved by external power applied to the pulley 15 to develop centrifugal force in the liquid and-thereby cause it toassume an outer position in the shells 2; in this outer position the part of the liquid surface not in contact with the solid parts of the shells 2 and cylinder'l assume a nearly perpendicular posi tion; then the steam (or other compressed fluid) is admitted to the engine by opening an admission valve (not shown in the draw ings) and passes successively through the governor valve 23, pipe 24-, the hollow in central shaft 10, ports 25,- annular space 26, ducts 27, pipe 28, ducts 29, and pipe 17, into the upper part of the chamber 30 in the interior of the cylinders 1; in chamber 30 the surface C of the liquid 6 is depressed by the pressure of the steam and thereby causes the surface D in the chamber 31 to rise until the end 33 of the spiral-way 32 is above the liquid surface C- during a part of each rotation, causing valternate portions of steam and liquid to be taken in the spiralway 32 through the open end 33 carried inward and discharged out the open end 3% into the chamber 31, the liquid portions become part of the liquid therein, which flows downward through the contracted lower part of the shells 2 and up through the spout '37 into the lower part of the chamber 30, the steam portions after escaping from the end 34 of the spiral-way into the chamber 31 pass on through the passages 21, the gear box 41, and thescreens 13 therein contained, then out the hollow shaft ll and the pipe 35 to a condenser or the exhaust,

of the successive convolutions of the spiral- 1 way by their greater centrifugal tendency, and thus hold the steam portions in the gear 7 on the cylinder axle 8 meshes with J gear 9 on the stationary central shaft 10 causing the rotation of the cylinders to revolve the engine around the central shaft 10. The expansion of the steam portions while passing through the spiral-way greatly increases their flotative tendency and thereby their rotary driving power upon the cylinders. lVhen the expansion of the steam portions is greater than the increase in size of the spiral-way the liquid portions are displaced to the outward moving side of the spiral-way increasing the centrifugal force on this side so as to accelerate the rotary motion of the cylinders and the steam portions by sinking back deeper into the liquid exert a greater flotative tendency and act also as expanding wedges against the surfaces of the liquid portions and passing interior surface of the spiral-way to accelerate the rotary motion of the spiral-way.

V lVhile the engine is running a balance is established between the steam pressure in the chamber and that portion of the liquid in chamber 31 which is above or inward, of the liquid surface C in the chamber 80, and any increase or decrease in the speed or steam pressure causes a corrective action which automatically limits the amount of the feed steam to the load requirements by varying the relative position of the liquid surfaces C and D to form larger or smaller steam portions to be taken into the end 33 of the spiral-way 34, larger portions if the speed is sl-ackened by a decrease of the feed steam pressure or an increase of the load on the engine, and smaller portions if the speed is increased by an increase of the feed steam pressure or a decrease of the load. A small change of speed causes a relatively large change in the amount of the centrifugal pressure from the liquid in the chamber 31 against the steam pressure in the chamber 30 and causes the engine to adapt itself quickly to a change in the load or steam pressure. I

In stopping the engine after operating it by steam the cock 24 on the feed pipe 24 should be opened when the valve which ad mits the steam to the pipe 24 is closed, in this case, cock 24 is opened to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the pipe 24 and other passages leading to the chamber 30 which might result in the liquid contained in the shells 2 being drawn into these passages and pipe 24.

In the liquid circulating and regulating system a pump 39 pumps the liquid from the vessel 40 through the delivery pipe 41 into the vessel 42 and a second delivery pipe 43 into the gear box 4 from which it passes through the passage 21 to the chambers 31 in the shells 2: in the upper part of one or more of the shells 2 is an opening 44, connecting the interior of said shell with the duct 44, any excess of liquid in the shells 2 overflows into the duct 44 and presses upon the puppet valve 45 which releases it but retains the exhaust steam in the chamber 31. The liquid escaping from the puppet valve collects in the base pan 11 and flows back through the spout 46 into the aforementioned vessel 40; the pump 39 may be actuated as here shown by a pitman-rod 47 which joins its plungers 39 with the crank of the crank pulley 48, crank pulley 48 is driven by a belt passing around it and over the guide pulley 49 on the bracket 49 and the pulley 50 on the upper central shaft 14.

hen the liquid used in the engine is a substance which is liquid only while hot it may be melted before starting the engine by partly opening the feed steam admission valve (not shown) to cause the steam to pass into the main feed pipe 24 and the auxiliary pipe 24, then opening valves 51 and 52 in the warming pipes 53 and 54 thereby causing these pipes (58 and 54) and the warming tube 55 (in connecting pipe 63), and tube 53 (in vessel 40, delivery pipe 41, vessel 42 and delivery pipe 43), and the jacket 55, and the chamber 30 to fill with steam, the heat from which melts all portions of the substance to a liquid both in the shells 2 and the liquid circulating devices so that the engine can be started. After starting the engine valve 51 is closed to prevent useless boiling of the liquid in the vessel 40, and the valve 56 is opened letting the steam pass through the pipe 58 as far as the float operated valve 57 which is shown as being held in its closed position by the float 58, (see Figs. 2 and but should the quantity of the liquid be augmented by condensations from the steam then the float 58 will be raised opening the valve 57 and letting the steam pass again into the pipe 53 to boil away the liquid in vessel 40 until the float falls far enough to close valve 57 again.

In case some of the water is evaporated from the liquid by the heat of the steam the float 58 will be caused to fall until a valve 59 in the water supply pipe 59 is opened and more water is allowed to feed into vessel 40 until the float 58 is raised enough to close valve 59 again. It is preferable that the steam should be superheated rather than wet and that the water which is boiled away should be replaced by the actuation of the valve 59 by the float 58.

When the quantity of the liquid in the shells 2 and vessel 40 is normal valves 57 and 59 are both held closed by the position of the float 58: when 57 is open valve 59 is held closed and when valve 59 is open valve 57 is held closed. f it is so desired the valve 57 and 59 may be actuated by reparate floats.

The liquid should find a ready passage through the circulating devices so that any excess or shortage will be limited to the portion in the vessel lO.

A vacuum may be maintained in the housing 60 and the vessel 40 by means of a vacuum pump attached to the tube 61; a vacuum in the housing prevents air resist ance upon the moving parts or loss of heat therefrom.

A. portion of the liquid may be drawn out for sampling by attaching a closed vessel to the cock ()2 and opening same to allow some of the liquid to pass into said closed vessel, then closing the cook (32 and detaching the extra vessel: the withdrawn portion of liquid may be replaced by'pouring it into vessel *2: if the liquid is found to be too weak more of the solid ingredient may be added by placing it in the vessel 42, then the liquid flowing over it dissolves it and washes it down into the shells 2.

As the vessel -10 is attached only to the lid 38 it can be removed without disturbing any of the other parts.

The different liquids which can be used in engines of this type may be divided into four different classes, as:

(E) Liquids which are solid when cold and contain an ingredient which may be partly evaporated while in use and hot as: (I) a strong solution of calcium chlorid in water, this solution has a much higher boiling point than that of water; (II) a strong mixed solution of calcium chlorid and Zinc chlorid in water, this solution can be prelared so that it will have a lower melting point and a higher boiling point than that ()I' the strong solution of calcium chlorid. These liquids are suitable for use with the previously described liquid circulating heating and regulating devices.

(F) Liquids which are solid when cold but do not contain an ingredient which evaporates while hot, such as, (I) a fusible alloy, or (II) zinc stearate, or (III) zinc J stearate with a small amount of a non-volatile oil added. In case one of these liquids are used the float 5S and iioatoperated valves 5'? and 5S) and the tubes leading to them may be omitted from the combination of auxiliary devices and the liquid can be kept free from any water of condensation by having the steam superheated.

(G) Liquids which are liquid while hot and cold and contain an ingredient which evaporates while hot. such as (I) weaker solutions of calcium chlorid than those specified in the above class E, (II) weaker solutions of calcium chlorid and zinc chlorid mixed than those specified in the above class I), (III) a solution of zinc chlorid in water, a concentrated solution of zinc chlorid is nearly twice as heavy as water. These liquids are more suitable for air ongines or air compressors than for steam engiues. hen using one of this class oi liquids with a cold fluid all of the auxiliary devices except those for circulating the liquid may be dispensed with.

(H) Liquids which are liquid both when hot and cold and which do not contain an ingredient that evaporates while hot, as a non-volatile oil. When using this kind of a liquid the preheating tubes 5i, 53 and (33 and the jacket may be dispensed with: In this case also superheated steam may be used to keep the liquid free from any water of condensation.

(H Liquids such as mercury which are liquid both while hot and cold but in the use of which it is desired to prevent loss by slow evaporation may be used in air engines or air compressors either with or without the liquid circulating and heating 7 devices, and with or without the connecting tube 63.

Screens 13 prevent particles of the liquid from escaping into the exhaust.

In case a precipitate forms in the liquid it may be dissolved by adding a solvent to the liquid, as for example, ii the liquid is a solution of zinc chlorid or zinc chlorid and calcium chlorid mixed, a precipitate of zinc oxid may be slowly formed, this can be dissolved by adding a little hydrochloriacid to the solution. If insoluble particles get into the liquid they will settle through the grating 64 in the bottom of the vessel $0 and can be removed by detaching vessel 40 from its lid 38.

An external governor 23 may be :used in connection with internal governing means previously described herein. Or an external overspeed and underspeed valve may be used in connection with the internal governing means hereinbefore described; then in starting the engine the initial motion imparted to the machine opens the admission valve and so turns on the expansive fluid at the proper time; and in case the engine gets stalled by too great a load the feed steam will be shut off or if the engine runs too fast the supply of the feed steam will be reduced as with a governor.

In this patent it is obvious that the engine may be made with the cylinders set at a greater or less angle from the vertical;

that the spiral-ways may have either a greater or less number of convolutions: thatthe cylinders may each have two or more parallel spiral-ways instead of one; and that it is not intended the engine should be limited to the form of spiral-way shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

It is also obvious (as previously stated) that a cylinder of this type may be operated as an engine, compressor, blowers, or vacuum pump by rotation on its axis only, gravity in this case taking the place of the centrifugal force, in this case the helix of the spiral-way may be made longer with a solid Lil greater number of convolutions; and when operated as an engine the feed fluid may be made to pass through a pressure regulating valve before entering the engine.

While I have herein shown and describ d the embodiments of my invention, my intention is not to limit it to the details of the construction shown, as changes can readily be made without departing from the general plan thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. In an engine or the like, a rotating member, consisting of a spiral-way inclosed between an inner casing and a middle casing, said inner casing being closed at its upper end, and said middle casing extending beyond the lower end of said spiralway; said spiral-way leading from the interior of said inner casing to the exterior of said middle casing; suitable bearings secured to said rotating member so as to permit of the rotation of same in an inclined position; an outer non-rotating member consisting of a casing larger than the rotating member and inclosing same; a liquid contained in said non-rotating outer casing and partly submerging the rotating member; means for conducting a fluid to the interior of said inner casing and from the space between the rotating and non-rotating members.

2. In an engine or the like, a rotating member, consisting of a spiral-way inclosed between an inner casing and a middle casing, said inner casing being closed at its upper end, and said middle casing extending beyond the lower end of said spiralway; said spiral-way leading from the interior of said inner casing to the exterior of said middle casing; suitable bearings secured to said rotating member so as to permit of the rotation of same in an inclined position: an outer non-rotating member consisting of a casing larger than the rotating member and inclosing same; a liquid contained in said non-rotating outer casing and partly submerging the rotating member; means for conducting a fluid to the interior of said inner casing and from the space between the rotating and non-rotating members; means whereby the rotation of the rotatable member on its axis causes the revolution of the rotatable and nonrotatable members around another axis to which the axis of the rotatable member is inclined.

3. In an engine or the like, a rotating member, consisting of a spiral-way inclosed between an inner casing and a middle casing, said inner casing being closed at its upper end, and said middle casing extending beyond the lower end of said spiralway in a portion of decreasing diameter; said spiral-way leading from the interior of said inner casing to the exterior of said middle casing; suitable bearings secured to said rotating member so as to permit of the rotation of same in an inclined position; an outer non-rotating member consisting of a casing larger than the rotating member and inclosing same; a liquid contained in said non-rotating outer casing and partly submerging the rotating member; means for conducting a fluid to the interior of said inner casing and from the space between the rotating and non-rotating members.

4. In an engine or the like, a rotating member, consisting of a spiral-way inclosod between an inner casing and a middle casing, said inner casing being closed at its upper end, and said middle casing extending beyond the lower end of said spiralway in a portion of decreasing diameter; said spiral-way leading from the interior of said inner casing to the exterior of said middle casing: suitable bearings secured to said rotating member so as to permit oi the rotation of same in an inclined position: an outer non-rotating member consisting of a casing larger than the rotating member and inclosing same; a liquid contained in said non-rotating outer casing and partly submerging the rotating member; means for conducting a fluid to the interior of said inner casing and from the space between the rotating and non-rotating members; means whereby the rotation of the rotatable member on its axis causes the revolution of the rotatable and nonrotatable members around another axis to which the axis of the rotatable member is inclined.

-5. In an engine or the like, two or more liquid containers which revolve around a central shaft, and means whereby the liquid contents of said containers communicate with each other; and a liquid circulating apparatus consisting of a duct leading from inside the inner end of the liquid containers to near the outer end thereof, a puppet valve in the outer end of said duct, a housing surmounting a base pan, a spout joining the base pan with a vessel, a pump in said vessel, a delivery pipe joining said pump with another vessel placedabove the engine, a second delivery pipe leading from the vessel above the engine through the hollow in the upper central shaft to the gear box, passages leading from the gear box to the revolving liquid containers.

6. In an engine or the like, means for melting a substance which is liquid only while hot, said means consisting of steam containing spaces so placed in contact with all parts of the liquid containing spaces that when the steam spaces are filled with steam the substance in all parts of the liquid containing spaces will be melted.

'7. In an engine, revolving liquid containers and means for causing a liquid to tlow to and from said revolving liquid containers; means whereby the liquid in each of said containers is in communication with the liquid in the other containers; means for automatically replacing a liquid ingredient which may be evaporated from the liquid in the revolving liquid containers and the means for causing said liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for automatically causing the evaporation of an excess of a liquid ingredient from the liquid in the containers and the means for causing said liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for melting a substance which is liquid only while hot, said means to act on the liquid contained in all parts of the re volving liquid containers, the means for liquid communication between the revolving liquid containers and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said liquid containers.

8. In an engine, revolving liquid containers and means for causing a. liquid to tlow to and from the same; means for automatically replacinga liquid ingredient which may be evaporated from said containers and the means for causing the liquid to How to and from said containers; means for automatically causing the evaporation of an excess of a liquid ingredient from the liquid in said containers and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said containers; and means for melting a substance which is liquid only while hot, such means to act on a substance in all parts oi the containers and means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers.

9. In an engine, a revolving liquid container, and means for causing a liquid to flow to and from the same; means for automatically causing the evaporation of an excess of a liquid ingredient from the liquid in said container and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said container; means for melting a substance which is liquid only while hot, such means to act on a substance in all parts of the container and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said containers.

10. In an engine, revolving liquid containers, and means 't'or'causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for automatically replacing a liquid ingredient which may be e 'aporated from the liquid in the revolving liquid containers; means for melting a substance which is liquid only while hot, such means to act on the liquid contained in all parts of the revolving liquid containers, and the means for liquid communication between the revolving liquid containers and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said containers.

11. In an engine or the.like, revolving liquid containers, and means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for automatically replacing a liquid ingredient which may be evaporated from said containers and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for automatically causing the evaporation of an excess of a liquid ingredient from the liquid in" said containers and the means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers.

12. In an engine or the like, revolving liquid containers, and means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers; means for automatically replacing a liquid ingredient which may be evaporated from said containers and the means for causing the liquid to flow to and from said containers.

13. In an engine or the like, revolving liquid containers and means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers;

means for automatically causing the evapo- 'ation of an excess of a liquid ingredient from the liquid in said containers and the means for causing a liquid to flow to and from said containers.

ll. In an engine in which a spiralway element rotates on its axis while revolving around another axis to which the axis of said element is inclined, means whereby a liquid within and around said element acts as a governor; another governor outside of said element acting in combination therewith.

15. In an engine in which a spiral-way element rotates on its axis while revolving aroundanother axis to which the axis of said element is inclined; means whereby a liquid within and around said elements acts as a governor; an over-speed and underspeed valve outside of said engine element to act in combination with said inside gov ernor.

ROBERT J. DAVIDSON. IVitnesses:

CHARLES F. Cums, J12, HATTIE BUEI-ILER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

